Potential R8 buyer

[carboy]

Hello everyone,

I will probably in the market looking for a used R8 around 110k range in the next few months. While i was surfing on the forum, I found some rumors regarding to the new RS5. I heard it will most likely use the same engine as R8and tune it up to 450hp which is 30 more hp than R8. I can't imagine myself paying over 110K for a car that has the same engine but produce less HP than a 70-90K car.

Do you guys think R8 V8 will receive an engine update soon or it will be done after the RS5 hit the market? Again, I know R8 and RS5 are two different cars but IMO R8 should be superior than the RS5 in any way.

Please comment on your thoughts!

Thank you

[HovyR8]

I know R8 and RS5 are two different cars
Thank you

I think you pretty much answered your own question.

Keep in mind that there will always be a faster, better, more this, more than the car you will buy. That should not be the only criterion in your decision making to purchase a car.

Yes, it is true that the upcoming RS5 will have similar performance than the R8 but I can assure you that in no way the RS5 will handle as perfectly as the R8 does. Moreover, nothing beats the design fluidity of the R8; it's just perfect. The back of the A5, S5 and future RS5 just look like the new A4 (on top of sharing the same platform I think).

I strongly suggest you test-driving an R8. Once you do that, you won't even care if Chevy Cavalier is faster than you; the R8 is magical.

Good Luck!

[randombloke]

Do you guys think R8 V8 will receive an engine update soon or it will be done after the RS5 hit the market? Again, I know R8 and RS5 are two different cars but IMO R8 should be superior than the RS5 in any way.

audi offer the v10 as the range topper which is a huge leap ahead of the rs5 in pure performance terms, but the v8 r8 is all about the package rather than bragging rights.

[carboy]

Thanks for the fast response. I guess you guys are right, my only concern is I'm afraid if i purchase the car right now and within a few month Audi comes out with a better V8 engine for R8 then I will be really upset.

Have you guys heard anything about what AUDI will do to 2010 or 2011 R8 V8?

Thank you!

[randombloke]

Are you in the market for a new or used r8? if new, then the actual difference between a well optioned v8 and standard spec v10 (which includes most of the common options) is relatively small, especially if you're only going to keep it for a short while where residuals become a factor.

[willyjp]

The Audi Club N.A. magazine, "Quattro Quarterly" regularly runs articles about "what's coming" from Audi. About last Fall, they predicted an "update" for the 4.2 v8 in the RS5 with, if I recall correctly, about 20-25 hp more than the current 414 (sae)/420 (din) rating. They predicted this might actually appear first in the R8 v8 cars, and it was anticipated and looked for in the 2010 specs.

But the 2010 order guide still describes it as 420 hp (which is the european/din system rating, lots of fine print has it at the sae 414 level) it's always been at. An update as significant as 20 hp increase in the advertised hp. would likely be done at a model year turn over, so maybe not until 2011, or the spider intro or ?.

But the update/upgrade process is constant and if you search on this forum you'll fine that one of the members (R8England?) recently reported that Audi had improved the emissions output numbers for the new R8 v8's without any formal announcement, etc. That likely can't happen without SOME kind of engine efficiency upgrade which theoretically should translate into a power increase, but obviously not enough to warrant an increase in the advertised claim. You will NEVER have the "latest" for long with any car, so you've got to decide what's "enough" for you!

[Garyhun]

Why not do what I am doing. Get a used V8 now, live with it for a year or 2 to make sure it's the car for you and then get a new one.

[ianerrid]

Thanks for the fast response. I guess you guys are right, my only concern is I'm afraid if i purchase the car right now and within a few month Audi comes out with a better V8 engine for R8 then I will be really upset.

Have you guys heard anything about what AUDI will do to 2010 or 2011 R8 V8?

Thank you!

Even if it comes later with 20 extra horses, trust me you won't feel short changed - if you want the big power and the extra weight for the V10.

[09R8]

just go out and test drive the car if you are unsure.

[RS4Cab]

Why not do what I am doing. Get a used V8 now, live with it for a year or 2 to make sure it's the car for you and then get a new one.

But then you don't get that new car smell There is something special about going to pick up a brand new car that no one else has driven and I'm willing to paying the premium for that. The days I pick up that brand new car are memories that I will have till the end, other than the birth of my child little compares to them